Preview: Pro12, Round 18

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Pro12 resumes with the focus firmly on the business end of the season as teams compete to reach the Final Series and secure Champions Cup qualification berths.

Games take place across all four countries this weekend as players return to their clubs after battling in their national colours during the Six Nations.

Just five rounds remain ahead of the Final Series which will decide who will reach the Pro12 Final in Dublin on May 27.

The competition at the top of the Pro12 table is intense with leaders Leinster acutely aware that any slip-up at home to Cardiff Blues will be capitalised on by either Ospreys or Munster who both face trips to Italy this weekend.
Behind the top three Ulster and Scarlets appear to be vying for a top four place but Gregor Townsend's Glasgow Warriors could yet mount a late charge in order to retain the title they won in 2015 when Connacht come to town.

Ulster face a tricky trip to face Newport-Gwent Dragons as they look to keep up their superb scoring form which as seen them collect 24 match-day points from a possible 25 in the last five rounds. However, Dragons boast a reasonable overall record against the province with 10 wins from 27.

Scarlets welcome Edinburgh to Llanelli where they have won seven games in the Pro12 this season but the visitors will be boosted by the return of their Scottish internationals at they bid to arrest their recent form.

Newport Gwent Dragons have lost their last four matches in the Pro12 since beating Benetton Treviso 26-8 at Rodney Parade on January 6.

Dragons only victory over an Irish Province in the last 14 months was 21-16 at home to Connacht in Round Eight this season.

Ulster have won their last five matches in the Pro12 since they were beaten by Scarlets in Llanelli in Round 13. That reversal to Scarlets ended a five game winning run against Welsh regions in the tournament.

Ulster's only defeat in their last six fixtures against Dragons was 22-26 at Rodney Parade in March 2015.

Ulster won on their most recent visit to Newport, but have not won successive matches at Rodney Parade since 2005-2006.

Glasgow Warriors 47-17 victory at home to Newport Gwent Dragons in Round 17 ended a three game losing run in the Pro12.

The Warriors home record in the Pro12 this season is an even won four, lost four.

Connacht have won their last four Pro12 matches, the last two with maximum points.

Connacht have lost only one of their last six matches against Scottish opponents: 5-41 at home to Warriors in Round One this season.

Connacht have won only one of their last eleven encounters with Warriors in the regular season of the Pro12: 14-7 in Galway last May, whilst Connacht’s only victory on Glasgow's "turf" since 2003 came at Firhill in September 2010.

Leinster have won their last six Pro12 fixtures since losing out to Munster in Limerick at Christmas.

The Leinstermen have won their last 20 home games in all competitions sine their defeat to Toulon in the Champions Cup at Aviva Stadium in December 2015, whilst the last side to lower their colours at the RDS Arena was Newport Gwent Dragons in the Pro12 in February 2015.

Cardiff Blues 18-17 victory at Edinburgh in their most recent away game ended a three game losing streak on the road in the Pro12.

The Blues have lost their last five matches against Irish provinces since winning against Munster in Cork in Round Two.

Leinster have won their last twelve matches against The Blues in all competitions, whilst the Welshmen's only victory over the Leinstermen since 2007 was 11-3 at the Cardiff City Stadium in February 2011.

Zebre's most recent victory in the Pro12 was 19-14 against Edinburgh at Murrayfield at the end of October.

Zebre have not beaten an Irish Province since winning 13-6 against Ulster in Parma in September 2014.

Munster have lost just once in the Pro12 since Round Six: 21-13 at home to Scarlets on February 24.

Munster's away record in the Pro12 this season is an impressive won eight, lost one, the defeat being to Leinster at Aviva Stadium on October 8.

The two sides have met on nine previous occasions with Muster victorious in every instance, seven times with a try bonus, whilst Zebre have managed just two losing bonus points, both in Parma, in 2013 and 2016.